Originally Posted By: mrgeeze
edshaw,
What advantage does the NCH mp3 conversion have over simply exporting the mp3 file directly from biab?
thanks


A couple of things. First, it gives you a set of WAV files of the the highest available quality of the original mixed backing track and its components. These go into their own sub folder of the main project folder, one for each song.
Yes, you can export in MP3 format if you want. But here is why I prefer to convert: the fewer variables in your work flow, the better. The audio converter asks, 1) what is the input file? (WAV) 2) What is the output (MP3, AIFF, or other)
3)What is the quality MP3 you want? (low, med, best?) Bitrate? Do the conversions, file them, and put that folder into the main project folder. Now you have a main project folder with two subs -- WAVs and MP3's. You are not going to get confused down the road.
Say your BB backing track is exceptional. You take it to a lab for mastering or to recording studio. You going to give them an MP3? Of course not, not if you have a WAV.
There are reasons for using MP3's. One, upload and transfer time. My original BB WAV mixdown tends to be 80-120 Mb.
Converted to MP3, under 10Mb. This also can saves work on any SD cards that might come into play, such as an iPod or Walkman , though I think they have built in converters.. For those who use the DAW, I don't know. If your computer can handle it, then not a problem. But my 8 track deck takes 16G, 32G SD's and they can fill up.
I think I mentioned, I have been recording directly from the Band in a Box interface into the recorder. That is because I have found the quality of sound coming out of that little mixer on the BB interface to be top quality. If I want to tweak it, mix it down or master it, I the recorder has that capability. I just run a line out from the computer headphone jack into the recorder line in and ride the levels. There is no decision there -- the recorder records everything as WAV.
Funny thing, I can drag and MP3 into the SD card and it stores as a WAv. Sounds all right. But I'd rather record the old way, by hand.
These are some ideas I am throwing out for consideration. I am far from competent in post production. Add the fact I work with an eight track digital recorder, my thoughts may be useless to most here. Still, I don't nthink it makes too much sense to put a lot of post production effort into songs in MP3.

Last edited by edshaw; 05/29/19 01:17 AM.
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